The Quest for a Moral Compass

Accessible, fascinating, and thought-provoking, this is the groundbreaking story of the global search for moral truths

In this remarkable book, Kenan Malik explores the history of moral thought as it has developed over three millennia, from Homer’s Greece to Mao’s China, from ancient India to modern America. It tells the stories of the great philosophers, and breathes life into their ideas, while also challenging many of our most cherished moral beliefs.

Engaging and provocative, The Quest for a Moral Compass confronts some of humanity’s deepest questions. Where do values come from? Is God necessary for moral guidance? Are there absolute moral truths? It also brings morality down to earth, showing how, throughout history, social needs and political desires have shaped moral thinking. It is a history of the world told through the history of moral thought, and a history of moral thought that casts new light on global history.

KENAN MALIK is a writer, lecturer, and broadcaster. He is a presenter of The Moral Maze on BBC Radio 4 (UK). He has taught at universities in Britain, Europe, Australia and the USA, presented many TV documentaries and writes regularly for newspapers across the world including as a columnist for the International New York Times. His books include Man, Beast and Zombie; Strange Fruit; and From Fatwa to Jihad (Melville House, 2010), which was shortlisted for the 2010 Orwell Book Prize.